CedarBridge Academy has praised the hard work of 16 student Peer Leaders who successfully led the Peer Forward Programme in partnership with the Mirrors Programme.

The S3 and S4 students organised school-wide initiatives intended to encourage young people to prepare themselves for further education.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education said: “The primary aim of the Peer Forward Program is to increase the number of students applying to and enrolling in postsecondary institutions through peer-to-peer support and leadership.

“The programme seeks to cultivate an enduring culture of academic ambition and opportunity by empowering students to guide and motivate one another.”

The student-led campaigns focused on three specific areas: connecting students to build a college-going culture, supporting the college and job application process and providing information about financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Peer Leaders involved in the programme also collected data on college and university applications submitted and accepted, to help paint a better picture of the postsecondary landscape.

Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education, said: “The Peer Leaders at CedarBridge Academy are to be commended for their dedication and commitment in the service to their fellow students.

“They have provided exemplary service and are trusted resources for their peers desiring to enrol in postsecondary institutions. Their support has impacted students navigating their future education journey.”

Kenneth Caesar, principal at CedarBridge, added: “We are incredibly proud of our Peer Leaders and the positive example they’ve set.

“Their passion and commitment have supported their classmates and strengthened our school’s college readiness culture in meaningful, lasting ways.”